Ryman Healthcare Transforming Aged Care Dining with Innovative Technology

Ryman Healthcare, a leader in retirement living and aged care services, has been shortlisted for Innovation of the Year – Technology at the 2024 Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards.

The award nomination recognises Ryman's use of the Saffron hospitality platform, a technological implementation to streamline meal ordering processes through tablets, providing residents with detailed information and empowering them to make choices aligned with their nutritional needs and preferences.

In 2023, Ryman rolled out Saffron to 40 villages across New Zealand and Victoria.

Ryman is the first aged care provider in the Asia Pacific region to implement the platform, aligning with its commitment to tech innovation that enhances resident experience and operational efficiency.

Andrew Gibson, Ryman’s Group Hotel Services Manager says centralised menu planning across New Zealand and Australian villages offers bespoke seasonal menus, trialled with staff members for quality assurance.

“We know that food is a key factor for people when considering a retirement village, and it plays a defining role in ongoing resident satisfaction,” he says.

“Saffron provides us with valuable insights into our residents’ dietary requirements and preferences, leading to reduced food waste and improved cost management.

“We’re using this intel to inform our menu creation, enabling meals to be selected while tracking dietary preferences. The reception from residents has been overwhelmingly positive – we’ve seen a significant uplift in food satisfaction ratings in the past 12 months.”

With Saffron, care staff take meal orders on tablets, providing residents with photographs and ingredient details. This allows staff to help residents choose nutritionally appropriate meals while maintaining their autonomy.

Experienced chefs are on site at villages to coordinate menus which are first trialled with employees in Ryman’s test kitchen. If something isn’t popular, with staff or with residents, it gets cycled out of the menu.

Furthermore, aligning food preferences and needs with menus helps reduce waste in line with Ryman’s sustainability strategy.

Ryman has long been determined to change perceptions about food in aged care with Saffron just the latest enhancement.

 
Chef Lawrence Manohara-Seelan

“Our retirement communities boast culinary experiences that rival high-end restaurants,” says chef at Ryman’s Nellie Melba Retirement Village in Melbourne Lawrence Manohara-Seelan.

“We craft diverse menus featuring fresh, flavourful dishes, ensuring residents enjoy satisfying meals tailored to their tastes.

“Ryman's ethos of resident centricity and nurturing chef talent allows us to experiment with menus and introduce fine dining experiences to redefine the culinary aged care norm.

“We believe that food fosters connection, joy, and a sense of belonging. At Ryman, we’re transcending age barriers and nourishing both body and soul.”

The Eldercare Innovation Awards will be announced in Singapore in May, celebrating providers that redefine the ageing experience through innovative business practices, operational strategies, and service models.

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